Display rack with multiple board size

ABSTRACT

A display device including a plurality of display panels, at least one of the panels having a dimension differing in at least one aspect from a corresponding dimension of another panel. The invention also includes sets of display panels for use with such a display device, and related display methods.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/318,422, filed Sep. 10, 2001, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to methods and devices fordisplaying products, materials and/or information; and relates moreparticularly to a display system utilizing display boards or palletcards of multiple and differing size and/or shape, and to associateddisplay methods, for improving the display presentation of floorcovering products or other materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, many types of materials and information such as carpet, woodflooring, laminate, vinyl, ceramic, rugs and other floor coveringproducts, wall-paper, paneling and paint, as well as associatedmarketing information, pricing, etc., are displayed on loose samples oron page or board-type displays referred to as pallet card displays orrack and board displays. Each pallet card typically displays one or moresamples of a floor covering product or other material and/or informationon one or both of its sides. The cards can be made of, for example, cardstock, wrapped card stock, hardboard, styrene, formed or molded plasticproducts, wood, metal, or other material(s). One or more such palletcards are typically attached to a display fixture or rack of some type,including but not limited to floor-standing or wall-mounted supportdevices using a short pin-long pin mounting method, rods, hinges, orother attachment means to secure the cards thereon. The display deviceusually has a single array of display cards, or one row of pallet cardsto a side, although in some instances, multi-tiered arrays of smallcards are used.

Typically all pallet cards in an array on the display device areapproximately the same size and shape, with card sizes commonly rangingfrom as small as 16″×16″ on small displays to as large as 24″×48″ onlarge displays. Usually the long dimension forms the spine of the palletcard, which is pivotally mounted to the support device. While somecurrent displays are adjustable to allow use of card arrays of varioussizes all known systems use only one size card, both in height andwidth, on any one array of the display.

It has been found that currently known display devices limit the abilityto display material or information on underlying cards of an array,since overlying cards of the array, typically being of about the samesize and shape as the underlying cards, cover substantially all of thesurface area of the underlying cards. Although a viewer typically canpivot the overlying cards out of the way to view an underlying card,many viewers will not always put forth the time and effort to flipthrough an entire array to view the material on every one of the cards.Moreover, many “impulse” buyers will not even bother to approach adisplay if material they might be interested in is hidden from view byoverlying cards bearing material that they are not interested in.

Thus, it can be seen that needs exist for improved display devices andmethods of display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes display devices and methods providingimproved display characteristics, greater ability to convey informationto customers, and being more user-friendly than previously known displaysystems. The display device and method of the present invention assistboth the customer and the dealer by making it easier to organize andunderstand various product features. For example, product features suchas price points can be indicated and related to the consumer and/or thedealer by a corresponding display feature such as the size and/or shapeof the display panel or board on which the product is mounted. Thedisplay device and method of the present invention also provide improvedvisual impact and permit easier product comparison, allowing multipletypes or styles of product to be viewed simultaneously. Additionally,the dealer can more readily “trade up” when selling to a customer due tothe ability to display larger-sized samples of more expensive product,and to explain and show multiple price points for product based on arelation between pricing and display panel size. The display device andmethod of the present invention also enable a more focused impactdisplay, wherein multiple samples of variations of the same type ofmaterial, for example samples of the same carpet pattern in a spectrumof different colors, are displayed on panels of the same display device.

In one aspect, the invention is a display device. The device of thepresent invention preferably includes a rack; a first display panelmounted to the rack; and a second display panel overlying a portion ofthe first display panel, whereby at least a portion of the first displaypanel extends beyond an edge of the second display panel.

In another aspect, the invention is a set of display panels for use in adisplay device. The set of display panels of the present inventionpreferably includes at least two display panels, wherein a seconddisplay panel of the set can overlie a portion of a first display panelof the set while leaving another portion of the first display paneluncovered.

In still another aspect, the invention is a display method. The displaymethod of the present invention preferably includes the steps ofproviding a first display panel having a first display surface; andproviding a second display panel having a second display surface, thesecond display panel overlying the first display panel but leaving aportion of the first display surface visible.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention willbe understood with reference to the drawing figures and detaileddescription herein, and will be realized by means of the variouselements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following brief description of the drawings anddetailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of theinvention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a display device according to onepreferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a display device according to anotherpreferred form of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show perspective views of display devices accordingstill further preferred forms of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a set of display panels according to another preferred formof the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a set of display panels according to still anotherpreferred form of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description of the invention taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure.It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to thespecific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/orshown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments by way of example only and is notintended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Also, as used in thespecification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or“approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or“approximately” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular valueand/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it willbe understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

In preferred form, the present invention is a display device includingtwo or more pallet cards of varying size and/or shape. The cards arepreferably arranged in one or more groups or arrays on a display rack orother support device. In this manner, at least a portion of the materialand/or information present on all cards in an array on the displaydevice is visible to a viewer without the need for flipping through thearray of cards. If the viewer wishes to see the entirety of anunderlying card, he or she can more easily locate the card of interestfrom its visible portion, and immediately flip the overlying card(s) outof the way of the card of interest.

In example embodiments, the display device of the present inventionpreferably includes at least one set of two or more pallet cards ofvarying size, such as for example, pallet cards differing in height,width and/or shape; each set preferably arranged in one or more arraysof cards, for example, from smaller to larger, presented a center outformat, a left to right format, a right to left format and/orcombinations thereof. In other example embodiments of the invention,pallet cards of the same height are displayed in one or more arrays withvarying widths from narrow to wide presented in, for example, a centerout format, left to right format, right to left format, and/or anycombination thereof. In still other embodiments, the display device ofthe present invention comprises one or more vertical arrays of cardshaving the same or different widths, arrayed with longer cards behindshorter cards and/or one or more arrays of cards arranged diagonally,offset at some angle from the horizontal or the vertical, or in a curvedor irregular array. In other embodiments, cards of approximately thesame height and/or width, but having differing shapes, are arranged toleave at least a portion of an underlying card visible beneath anoverlying card.

As seen best with reference to FIG. 1, the display device 10 of thepresent invention comprises a rack 12, and one or more arrays or sets(two are shown) of at least two display panels 14 mounted to the rack.The rack 12 preferably comprises one or more support members such aslegs or base elements 16 for supporting the display device on a floor,wall or other support surface, and one or more body portions extendingfrom the base elements. The rack 12 also optionally comprises one ormore fixed display surfaces 18 for application of material, information,marketing literature, and/or decorative effects. At least one of thedisplay panels 14 is preferably pivotally connected to the rack 12 byone or more pivotal couplings 20, such as hinges, pin couplings,bearings, and/or other attachment means. The panel(s) 14 can bepivotally connected directly to the rack 12, or pivotally connectedindirectly to the rack as by connection to another panel that is itselfdirectly or indirectly connected to the rack. Alternatively, the rack 12may be omitted, and the display panels pivotally connected to oneanother. Overlying panel(s) 14 are preferably pivotally connected to therack 12 or to an underlying panel 14, so that the overlying panel(s) canbe pivoted (as for example, in the manner of turning a page of a book)out of the way to allow the observer to view the entirety of theunderlying panel. For example, panel 14 a is shown in solid linesdepicting a first or “open” position overlying a portion of panel 14 b,and in broken lines depicting a second or closed position permitting theentirely of panel 14 b to be viewed by an observer facing the front ofthe device 10.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the rack 12 hasa first set or array of two or more display panels pivotally mounted toa first side thereof, and a second array of two or more display panelspivotally mounted to a second side thereof. For example, the depictedembodiment comprises two arrays of panels, each array comprising fourdisplay panels 14 a, 14 b, 14 c and 14 d, one array being arranged on afirst side of the rack 12, and the other array on a second side of therack.

At least one of the display panels overlies at least a portion ofanother display panel, and preferably has at least one dimension that issmaller than a corresponding dimension of the underlying display panel.In preferred form, the entirety of the overlying display panel overliesthe underlying panel. Alternatively, only a portion of the overlyingpanel overlies the underlying panel, resulting in a partially offset oroverlapping array configuration. For example, in the embodiment of FIG.1, display panel 14 a overlies display panel 14 b, and display panel 14a has a height and a width less than the height and width, respectively,of display panel 14 b. Successive underlying display panels 14preferably each have at least one dimension that is larger than anoverlying panel 14, and/or have at least a portion extending beyond anedge of an overlying panel, whereby a portion of each panel is visibleto an observer, even when underlying panels are partially covered by anoverlying panel. Preferably, if a plurality of panels 14 are provided,their sizes are proportionally stepped in increments from smaller tolarger. For example, in the depicted embodiment, panel 14 d is longerand wider than panel 14 c, panel 14 c is longer and wider than panel 14b, and panel 14 b is longer and wider than panel 14 a. In preferredforms, each panel is larger or smaller than an adjacent panel by anequal increment, or by progressively increasing or decreasingincrements.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a display device 10′ according to thepresent invention, wherein one or more arrays (two are depicted) ofpanels 14′ are pivotally connected to a rack 12′ by one or morecouplings 20′. Successive underlying display panels 14 a′, 14 b′, 14 c′and 14 d′ of about the same height preferably have incrementally largerwidths than their immediately overlying panel. Of course, it will beunderstood that the invention also comprehends an array of two or moredisplay panels of about the same width, and with underlying panelshaving incrementally larger heights than their immediately overlyingpanel.

Although the depicted embodiments show rectangular display panels, theinvention also includes cooperating sets or arrays of display panelswith other than rectangular shapes, such as for example, an array of twoor more triangular, rectangular, circular, oval and/or otherwise shapeddisplay panels wherein one panel has at least one dimension larger thana corresponding dimension of another panel. The two or moredifferently-sized display panels of an array can all have the same orsimilar shapes, or alternatively the array can comprise two or moredisplay panels each having a different shape, wherein at least a portionof an underlying panel extends beyond an adjacent overlying panel. Forexample, a circular panel of diameter d can overlie a square panelhaving a side width of d or greater, whereby at least the corners of theunderlying square panel extend beyond the overlying round panel and arethereby observable by a viewer. In still other embodiments, overlyingpanels define one or more openings through which portions of underlyingpanels are visible. Differently shaped panels of a set can beapproximately the same size, or alternatively can also differ in size.Likewise, differently sized panels of a set can have the same shape ordifferent shapes. For example, FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show embodiments of thedisplay device 10″ of the present invention having radiused edges ontheir unattached or free sides. The embodiment of FIG. 3 a includespanels 14 a″, 14 b″, 14 c″ and 14 d″ wherein each successive underlyingpanel is progressively wider than its next adjacent overlying panel. Thedisplay device of FIG. 3 b, by contrast, includes panels of generallythe same size and shape.

FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, depict representative sets of display panels30 a, 30 b, 30 c and 30 d, and 30 e, 30 f, 30 g and 30 h (FIG. 3), and40 a, 40 b, 40 c and 40 d, and 40 e, 40 f, 40 g and 40 h (FIG. 4). Theembodiment of FIG. 3 includes panels of different shapes, namelyrectangular panels 30 a, 30 e, and non-rectangular panels 30 b, 30 c, 30d, 30 f, 30 g and 30 h having upper and lower corner sections of theirattached sides removed. Each successive underlying panel of theembodiment of FIG. 3 extends beyond an overlying panel on all threeunattached sides, producing a center-out, framed appearance. Theoverlying panels of the FIG. 4 embodiment are generally rectangular withone corner of their unattached sides removed, and the base panels 40 d,40 h are rectangular. Each successive underlying panel is longer andwider than its overlying panel, and the tops of all panels in each setare aligned.

Each display panel 14 preferably comprises at least one display surfacefor displaying information or material 22 such as carpet, wood flooring,laminate, vinyl, ceramic, rugs, and other floor covering products,wallpaper, paneling, paint, wrapping paper, fabric, paper, posterboard,roofing material, other coatings, objects or materials, and/orassociated marketing information, pricing, etc. Optionally, each displaypanel 14 may display more than one material. For example, a singledisplay panel optionally displays a sample of carpet and one or moresamples of paint in a coordinated color scheme. In another optionalalternate embodiment of the invention, adjacent display panels in a setdisplay different materials (e.g., carpet, wallpaper, roofing, paint andtrim color, etc.) in a coordinated color scheme. Preferably, eachdisplay panel 14 comprises two display surfaces, one display surface oneach side of the panel 14.

The invention also comprises a method of displaying material orinformation. A first piece of material or information is displayed on afirst panel, and a second piece of material or information is displayedon a second panel. The second panel is coupled to the first panelwhereby the second panel overlies at least a portion of the first panel.At least a portion of the first panel extends beyond an adjacent edge ofthe second panel, so that an observer can simultaneously view at least aportion of the material or information displayed on each display panelwithout moving the second panel. The second panel preferably can bemoved (for example, by way of a hinge or other pivotal coupling) toallow the observer to view the entirety of the first panel. In similarfashion, the invention can be extended to a method of displayingmaterial on one or more arrays of three, four or more display panels,whereby each successive underlying display panel preferably has at leastone dimension that is larger than an overlying panel, such that aportion of each panel is visible to an observer, even when underlyingpanels are partially covered by an overlying panel.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred andexample embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat a number of modifications, additions and deletions are within thescope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

1-11. (cancelled)
 12. A set of display panels for use in a displaydevice, said set comprising at least two display panels, each panelhaving an edge for pivotal attachment to a display rack, and a displaysurface for displaying a sample of displayed material, one of said atleast two panels comprising an overlying display panel and the other ofsaid at least two panels comprising an underlying display panel, whereina the overlying display panel has a dimension sufficiently smaller thana corresponding dimension of the underlying display panel, whereby theoverlying display panel can overlie a portion of the underlying displaypanel while leaving a portion of the display surface of the underlyingdisplay panel uncovered. 13-14. (cancelled)
 15. The set of displaypanels of claim 12, wherein the underlying display panel is wider thanthe overlying display panel.
 16. The set of display panels of claim 15,wherein the underlying display panel is also taller than the overlyingdisplay panel.
 17. The set of display panels of claim 12, wherein theoverlying display panel has at least one opening through which a portionof the underlying display panel is visible.
 18. The set of displaypanels of claim 12, wherein the overlying display panel has a differentshape than the underlying display panel. 19-20. (Canceled)